Before and After

 I started the morning with a handful or colorful beads and just couldn't let them sit any longer.  So with a playful vision, twists of metal and time...a fun before and after. 

Last night was a great bead making night.  I made the bead above and trapped a bit of summer air inside forever.  When the bead is molten, I make a quick poke into the bead body with a tool and then top it with a transparent glass.  A tiny bit of air is trapped in there and creates a bubble. This technique can is often used to make the center of flowers or add some quick dimension to a bead. I think this one looks like a big eye checking you out:) 

Up, Up and Away!

 Yesterday morning I took a little plane ride in that teeny tiny plane and wow! was it amazing...Definitely a first and hopefully a do over at some point.  I only made one subtle "I am going to throw up" noise into the headset for the other two people in the plane to hear...with that comes a souvenir baggie to take and remember that moment forever.  I'm not sure what the view below is of.  I never quite got my bearings...except to notice the most important land mark in the Buffalo area...the Bills stadium. 

This was done through Bob  Miller Flight Training:

http://bobmillerflighttraining.com/

and they are great!

 I have already dipped my mandrels for tonight! I am going to be camping out in my studio to produce, create and make make make!  The results will see you tomorrow!

Great night had by all!

Creative Essence - Clarence Center, NY

 It was a great night last night! Creative Essence is looking amazing and it was so fun and inspiring!

My amazing and beautiful sister in-law and myself in the shop and then in town for a celebratory/b-day glass of wine! Fun fun fun!

Use the Saffron!

I have a jar of saffron in my spice cupboard that I have been saving for just the right time to make a delicious and perfect paella.  My mom got it for me when I came home from Spain years ago.  So recently I checked the date on it and it has a 'best if use by date of 2007'!!! Whoa! Where did the time go! I haven't made the paella and now the saffron is out of date.  I was treasuring it and saving it for just the right moment.  In all honesty I probably could still use it but it struck me and  I got a little mad at myself. I have imagined making delicious paella for a special occasion and having a house full of people over to enjoy it...but I never did.  Well, I turn 31 today and I am going to get some new saffron and use it right away before it goes out of date (by 4 years)! It is going to be delicious and awesome..and even if I burn it or it's disgusting (50/50 odds on this)..at least I made it  and it was better than no paella at all.  CARPE DIEM AND USE THE SAFFRON!
 I love Birthdays of other people because I love to celebrate the fact that they were born and they are here.  For myself I always use it to set goals, reflect and regroup and who knew that a little bottle of stale saffron would help point me in the right direction as a start this new year of life. 

Soft Purple

 The center bead has a soft purple hue with hints of swirling copper tones and is flanked by two frit on cream colored beads.  The colors are soft, muted, earthy and elegant.   This piece is going to go towards the work I am going to continue to stock for summer shows and shop retail.  I love love love summer and hope everyone is enjoying this great season.

 Today I am going to the last creative get- together with the group at Creative Essence before the opening of the shop and craft center. I am taking my jewelry to the shop to display and sell and meeting with this amazing group of women.  The grand opening and open house is in a week! So exciting!
 I created a link to their site on the left ....so check it out:)

It is going to be a magical and creative establishment! Click in the 'Teachers Section' in the menu on their site for a quick little bit about me and the other teachers as well.  They are amazing and interesting women with great stories and talents! Super Happy Friday to everyone!!

This technique is a bit of a challenge but I love the results. I first lay an opaque series of dots around the plain body of the bead and melt it in. I then layer a transparent layer of dots on the first layer and melt it in. I repeat, spin and layer with proper placement and it creates this fish scale look. It calls for a steady hand a bit of patience, which is a good practice in any regard.  I love the dimension, use of color and the challenge.  Happy Monday to all!

So much to say...

I have wanted a letter/number stamping set for awhile. I found a great price at Harbor Freight (with a little help from my sister-in-law, the craft genius). It was $6.99 for the set and with shipping it was about $15. It would be better priced to get it at the store without the 2 lb shipping charge:). This morning I attempted my first round- so fun! I used a concrete surface with one towel layer beneath, then the copper plates. With a few swift taps with a heavy duty hammer on these bad boys and magic- WORDS!  I am so easily amused. The sky is the limit and I can't wait to incorporate this into some of my work. 

Enough about me...

Sweet Morgan's pottery

It has been a long drought since I have been at the torch. June is a crazy month! I have two classes left in my grad work and I am preparing for the comps and my final projects. There is life and fun and all the summer events that we look forward to during the long winter.  So when I am aching to work with my glass and be at the flame some amazing people unknowingly tide me over.  I just take a look around the house or in the garden and feel a bit satisfied not only to view the work I treasure from others but to think of how I treasure them in my heart. I would be nothing without them in terms of inspiration and life in general.  So the torch will have to wait until I can sneak some time between this and that but there is no lack of inspiration from the amazing people that carry us through life. 

My brother, Josh's work..boggles my mind

Morgan's amazing piece

Morgan's creative idea for the garden

Bird house by Philpa

My Grandpa made this for me when I was one..now my kiddos sit in it

One of Grammy's amazing quilts

Mom's stained glass

Of course I Wood!

Beyond glass, I love to use the natural tones and textures of wood. It is amazing and beautiful and lends itself well to many colors and designs. I am so easily amused by such things and be it the smooth beads within a piece or the large and giving maple in my front yard..of course I wood:)